Covering the WestSide as it is today and Challenging everyone to become involve as we move into the future.

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Sadly, they didn't have to look far to find this sister

I must confess. I watched the latest reality show from Tyra Banks & Aston Kutcher. True Beauty is the name. As expected, they had their token black man and black woman.

It's rough on reality shows when they only have one. The sister is very pretty. But unfortunately, she was the epitome of a beautiful black woman with an attitude.

Now all of her vane behavior was "understandable" to me. She was no different than any of the other female "beauties". But when the last challenge came and she failed it, that was hurtful. The challenges are unbeknownst to the contestant, because what the contestant are vying for is inner beauty.

So what was the last challenge that she failed? Well she had to enter a building to hear her results, but as she arrived at the front door, there was a delivery guy with about 8 cups of coffee in holders trying to get through the door. Did sista girl open the door for the delivery guy? Yes she did. But she also walked in first and didn't bother to try and hold the door open for the man, a basic common curtesy.

As we watch the Obama take the white house with class, I hope it spreads to a lot of young people. Especially our young black men and women who just one generation away from me seem to need a lot of the manners that their parents probably failed to instill in them.

LISTEN TO LIVE EVERY SUNDAY WRLL 1450 AM - 10pm UNTIL 12am

Also visit ONIXLINK.COM to see my postings under the Writer's Block section.

Arlene Jones

EMAIL ME: WESTSIDE2DAY@YAHOO.COM

Arlene Jones' Biography

I was born in Chicago. I grew up in Cabrini Green. I attended Wells Sr High, the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle where I majored in Spanish and minored in Education. I have a diploma in Computer Programming.

I moved to Austin when I purchased a home here. I have two children.

I have been active in the community since moving here. I started with my blockclub. In the early 1990s, I worked with several people to try and form the North Austin Homeowners Association. I even went on patrol with a group of people who had a walkie talkie car patrol of the neighborhood.

As with most programs in the AA community, many factors led to the demise of those groups. Lack of support from elected officials was at the top of the list.

There were several people who had a group and we met out of DaVinci Manor. DaVinci Manor was at the corner of North Ave and Central where Walgreen now stands. Again there was very little interest in saving that building and our community lost a beautiful hall.

I have protested the state of the Central Ave bridge. I worked with Leola Spann and did many a smoke out including one in the 1500 block of North Lorel where drug paraphenalia layed on the ground. I have over the years here in Austin worked with the following groups at one point or another:
Northeast Austin Organization (Mary Volpe, Tom Hosea);
Northwest Austin Council;
Mad Dads;
Brotherhood of Black Men;
Westside Health Authority;
Nobel Neighbors;
Every Block A Village;
Beat 2532;
25th District Housing Committee;
WVON Volunteer;
African American Employees at the Merchandise Mart (AAEMM);
Lafollette Park Advisory Council;
Garfield Park Conservatory Advisory Council;
Westside Executive Advisory Council;
Austin Landmark Cultural Center;
Concerned Citizens of East Garfield Park

and so many others that it gets hard to remember.

Arlene Jones

QUOTE OF THE DAY

If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing. -- Malcolm X